Why you need vitamin C
Why you need Vitamin C in your Summer (& Winter) skincare regime.
Well, perhaps not for our skin. Sweat, sunburn and air-con can all wreak havoc on your face in the summer months. But luckily, there’s a super ingredient out there to solve all your skin’s woes. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects skin from UV damage, stimulates collagen production, and lifts away dark spots revealing bright and glowing skin.
Why is vitamin C essential for skincare?
Vitamin C protects the skin from environmental factors by reducing free radicals.
Free radicals are unstable molecules which cause cell damage. When trying to stabilise they try to attach to other molecules (your skin cells) and this causes damage ie. oxidisation. Anti-oxidants protect and slow this oxidisation. Free radicals can come from pollution, sunlight, smoking and alcohol.
Vitamin C is one of the essential skincare regime ingredients as it stimulates collagen production, firms the skin, targets uneven skin tone and is one of the most powerful antioxidants for overall skin health.
What does it do for the skin?
Vitamin C protects the skin, protecting cells from the environmental damage which causes aging.
The antioxidant is not naturally produced in the body – so eating and applying topically is how your skin will see the benefits of Vitamin C.
Benefits of Vitamin C:
- Reduces formation of free radicals – which cause cell damage
- Prevents collagen breakdown – which causes aging
- Stimulates collagen synthesis – which slows down with aging
- Evens-out skin tone, reduces age spots & brightens
- In can also reduce acne.
Should I use Vitamin C in conjunction with any other products?
Combining Vitamin C with Vitamin E greatly increases its effectiveness.
Combining Vitamin C with an SPF also creates a greater effect for both products. Vitamin C boosts the efficacy of your SPF, plus Vitamin C can oxidise on the skins surface and SPF helps slow this and therefore you maximise the effect from the Vitamin C.
Do you need it particularly in summer?
Vitamin C is beneficial in summer but also all year round! Remember to use an SPF in addition to Vitamin C.
Is Vitamin C best applied as a serum, cream or mask?
A serum or paste would always be our first recommendation as they penetrate into the skin more easily and are typically more active formulations.
Moisturisers and eye creams are also beneficial. Mask or cleansers and wipes are beneficial for an instant radiance boost but you don’t get the long term benefits in the same way as a serum.
Is there a good time of day to use it?
You can use Vitamin C morning or night depending on your skin and routine. If you are using a potent Vitamin C in the morning we recommend using an SPF afterwards. If we are recommending Retinol for evening use, we will recommend the Vitamin C is used in the morning. Otherwise you can use Vitamin C overnight while your skin is repairing. Depending on your skin’s tolerance you should be able to use every day – if you experience any stinging then decrease frequency and build up to daily.
What should I look out for when buying Vitamin C products?
- Stable formulation – it can be a challenge to stabilise Vitamin C in skincare, as it’s sensitive to air, heat and light. We only use Vitamin Stay C 50 which is much more stable than Ascorbic Acid.
- Fragrance free product – fragrance can cause irritation.
- Highest percentage isn’t always the best, particularly if your skin is sensitive or acne-prone. Do not be tempted by an over-loaded Vitamin C product. This can cause a drying/irritating effect to the skin. Over-loading will not produce a better result.
- Packaging – Vitamin C oxidises when coming into contact with air, so we use only airless pump packaging which maintains the products efficacy for longer.
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